Terrorist attack or war action?

This Monday (17), there was an explosion on the bridge that connects Russia to the Crimean peninsula, leading to the death of two civilians who were in a car and crossed the bridge. The couple was also with their daughter, who was injured, according to the Russian Investigative Committee. The attack was carried out at 3 am local time.

The region was annexed to Russia and is the main supply route for Russian soldiers into Ukrainian territory. Due to the context of the war between the two countries and the strategic location, the spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, stated that “Today’s attack on the Crimean Bridge was carried out by the Kiev regime.”

Meanwhile, on the Ukrainian side, a source from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) implicitly claimed responsibility for the attack, along with the Navy. “Faced with numerous requests from the press about this new incident on the Crimean bridge, we inform you that all details about the organization of the explosion will be released by the Security Service of Ukraine after our victory”, said the official statement of the SBU, quoted by the Ukrainian public news agency “Ukrinform. On Twitter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recalled the difficulties faced during the war hours after the attack:

We still have a very, very difficult path to go to liberate our entire territory from the occupation, but let’s not forget how it all begins, how it all started, and what Ukrainians have managed to overcome. pic.twitter.com/P87lX73KIq

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 17, 2023

Zelensky talks about the Russian occupation and shows images of soldiers in battle. Play Twitter

Moscow has opened an official investigation into the incident, which will be carried out by the Russian Investigative Committee, and treats the explosion as a terrorist act carried out by Ukraine’s special services. Expert examinations have already been ordered, according to the Kremlin, under the allegation that the attack would have been carried out by maritime drones. “Two unmanned Ukrainian drones carried out an attack on the Crimean bridge”the National Anti-Terrorism Committee of the Russian Federation said in a statement.

The attack on the bridge directly affects the dynamics on the battlefield, as the Ukrainian counter-offensive started in June continues. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, territories have already been recovered, but progress is slow.

This is the second incident involving the access bridge to Russia; the first took place in October last year.

Featured photo: image shows destruction of the car hit by the explosion. Reproduction: Russian Investigative Committee / AFP